Visiting your college student in Lexington? Here’s how you can spend a weekend in the area

If you’re visiting your college student in Lexington for the first time, it can be overwhelming to decide how to spend a few days in town.

Where should you eat? Should you take a tour of a horse farm or a bourbon distillery? After you’ve seen their dorm room and walked through their favorite spots around campus, or finished a day of summer orientation, what next? We’ve compiled a list of things to do in and around Lexington that we think are some of the best or most unique places to visit if you only have a few days here.

This list is by no means exhaustive, and may not include your family’s favorite Lexington activities. It’s meant to be a starting point, and if you’re looking for more, the Lexington Visitors Center website has lengthy lists of Lexington restaurants, events and activities.

Places to eat, celebrate

How many opportunities do you have to eat a meal in a castle? The Kentucky Castle, located in Versailles (pronounced ver-sails — yes, we know we say it wrong but we’re not changing at this point), is just outside of Lexington. It’s a good option if you’re looking to celebrate with your college student.

Breakfast and lunch are served from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily. Dinner is served from 5-8 p.m., Sunday to Thursday, and from 5-9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Make a reservation on the castle’s website. The castle also offers tours, events and even has a spa, so check their website to see if there’s something happening that you’re interested in.

If you’re just looking for dessert, Crank & Boom is the place to go for local, top-notch ice cream. When my family comes to visit, Crank & Boom is always on the list of places we visit at least once, if not more than once, in the weekend. There are some flavors that stay on the menu, like Bourbon & Honey, Kentucky Blackberry & Buttermilk and Coffee Stout, all of which use local ingredients. There’s also a rotating menu of seasonal flavors that has never disappointed.

Kentucky Native Cafe is another great place to visit. When the weather is nice, you can sit outside in the beer garden and enjoy local food, beer and wine. It’s also connected to Michler’s greenhouses, which is fun to shop at if you’re a plant lover.

When in Kentucky…

When you’re in Lexington, you’re located near the Bourbon Trail and several bourbon distilleries. This is Kentucky, after all.

There are options for local tours, like the James E. Pepper distillery and Barrel House distillery in the aptly-named Distillery District. Information about those tours can be found on the distillery’s websites. The distillery district is also home to Goodfella’s Pizza, The Burl (an arcade and music venue) and Crank & Boom, making this a good spot to spend a few hours.

You’re a short drive from some of the biggest names in bourbon. Woodford Reserve and Four Roses distilleries are both within a 30 minute drive of Lexington. If you have time to venture farther out, other distilleries like Maker’s Mark or Bulleit are also within driving distance. Information about those tours can be found on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and distillery’s websites.

A short drive out of Lexington will lead you to the Kentucky Horse Park, where you can see live equine shows, take a pony ride or visit the International Museum of the Horse. The horse park is open Wednesday through Sunday, with $20 general admission and $10 admission for children during the summer.

While you’re in horse country, take a visit to a horse farm in the area. There are plenty of options when you’re in Lexington. Public and private horse farm tours are available, with a list of options on visithorsecountry.com. There are options for everyone, from a morning tour at Keeneland (with tickets from $15 per person), to pricier private tours of farms in the area.

Family-friendly fun

If you have a member of your family who is under 18 or 21, there’s no shortage of things to do around Lexington.

If you’re looking to get some shopping done, Lexington has plenty of stores to check out. The Summit at Fritz Farm is an outdoor shopping center, with higher-end shops and restaurants, like Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn and Free People. For an experience you can only get in Lexington, check out Greyline Station on the weekends. Julietta Market in Greyline features local vendors selling everything from food to handmade goods — and even tattoos.

Whenever I go to a new city, I love visiting local coffee shops. Some of personal favorites in Lexington are Coffee Times and Old School Coffee. Along the same lines, Futile Bakery is another favorite place to visit for delicious cinnamon rolls, scones and cookies.

There’s also your pick of outdoor activities in the area. The Arboretum at UK has a paved walking path and public gardens, and are free to visit. If you’re looking for a place to hike, Raven Run Nature Sanctuary borders the Kentucky River and has 10 miles of trails. McConnell Springs is another place to consider, which includes a nature sanctuary, natural springs and a nearly 2-mile trail for walking.